Peter Schorsch
After a brief hiatus, “Not Just A Body of Water” is returning with a streamlined format — different in style from our other email products — that is a better fit for what we describe internally as “Ninja Bow.” We plan to deliver NJABW more frequently than once a week because there is just so much happening in Tampa Bay politics. Please let us know what you think of the new format. And be sure to send your news tips to [email protected].
David Jolly won’t run for elected office in 2018 — The former Pinellas County congressman is not looking to return to elective politics this year, citing a tight Pennsylvania 18th Congressional District special election in a district Trump won by more than 20 points in 2016. On Twitter, Jolly said: “Politics is about timing. 4 years ago tonight I was elected in a district Obama won twice. Laura & I have considered another run, but watching PA, this is not the year to re-enter politics. Trump should be primaried in 2020. Our focus tonight is on being a part of that primary.”
Jeff Brandes to draw a challenger — St. Petersburg attorney Carrie Pilon is expected to challenge incumbent Republican Brandes in Senate District 24, according to planning documents obtained by Florida Politics. Pilon, a St. Pete native, is a Stetson University law grad and also holds a bachelor’s and master’s in public administration from Florida State University. She runs an injury law firm with her husband, Chad Pilon. According to a memo circulating among the Florida Democratic Party’s Senate Victory staff sent to a Florida Politics reporter), Pilon is set to announce her candidacy on April 2.
Save the date for Lincoln Day — Gov. Rick Scott will keynote the Pinellas County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner. The annual fundraiser and celebration is set for Saturday, April 14, at the St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater, 12600 Roosevelt Boulevard. Along with the presentation of the C.W. “Bill” Young Public Service Award, the dinner will feature an enhanced auction, gourmet food, a “stellar opportunity drawing” and several other activities. The event will begin with a VIP reception and silent auction starting 6 p.m., with dinner at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to buy tickets, call Charlotte Smith at (727) 539-6009.
IRONMAN expands in Tampa — IRONMAN, a global endurance sports brand, will expand its Tampa headquarters, adding 70 new jobs to its 160-person Florida workforce. New positions will include sales, marketing, human resources, operations, finance and information technology. Gov. Scott recognized the company this week with a Governor’s Business Ambassador Award during the Enterprise Florida board meeting in West Palm Beach last week. The 40-year-old company offers more than 250 events across 53 countries, including triathlons, running, cycling and mountain biking. IRONMAN World Headquarters will lease an additional 10,000 square feet in Tampa at the Lakeside office complex.
Pam Bondi fighting for Winter Haven Ritz Theatre — Bondi filed a complaint against the nonprofit charged “with renovating and operating The Ritz Theatre in downtown Winter Haven,” her office announced. “The complaint alleges misconduct and mismanagement by the defendants … Despite substantial grants, gifts, and funding from the State of Florida, the City of Winter Haven … the Ritz Theatre remains underutilized, strapped for cash and in peril of closure.” Bondi seeks a receiver to take possession of the nonprofit, “determine all outstanding indebtedness, and to report to the Attorney General’s Office and the court all steps needed to enable the theater to fulfill its long-standing mission.”
‘Taxpayers lose’ with Tampa Bay stadium, AFP warns — Americans for Prosperity-Florida is running a new digital ad in the Tampa Bay region warning against using public money to build a new baseball stadium — either in St. Petersburg or Ybor City. The 30-second animated ad offers several examples where taxpayers have “struck out” with using public money to build a pro sports stadium. “When it comes to the big game of corporate welfare,” the spot says, “taxpayers are always the losers.” At the end of the video is a call to action for supporters to contact the Hillsborough County Commission, urging members to oppose funding professional sports facilities.
Tampa heavyweights back Greg Steube — It’s a stretch to think of Florida’s 17th Congressional District as part of Tampa Bay, but the seat was drawn to include the agricultural areas of the region. Incumbent Tom Rooney is not running again. The race to replace him will decided in the GOP primary, where state Sen. Greg Steube is the early front-runner over state Rep. Julio Gonzalez. Four Tampa insiders — Tom Pepin, Steve Cona III, Ron Pierce, and Natalie King — are hosting one of Steube’s first fundraisers April 5 at the TPepin’s Hospitality Centre. This race won’t run through Hillsborough, but these are good local gets for Steube.
Fentrice Driskell raises $40K in first month of HD 63 campaign — Driskell looks like a true contender in her first month running in the Tampa Bay swing district held by Republican Shawn Harrison. “I truly appreciate the outpouring of community support from over 200 donors to our campaign who helped us raise $40,805.18 in just the first 22 days,” the Tampa attorney said in a release. “We are focused on common-sense solutions to the challenges we face every day in Hillsborough County and throughout Florida, from investing in education and transportation to protecting our children with sensible gun laws.” Driskell finished the month with $39,427 in her campaign account.
Wengay Newton holds fundraising lead in HD 70 — The St. Pete Democrat made it through the fundraising pause of the 2018 Legislative Session without ceding much ground to his primary challengers. Newton started the year with about $15,000 on hand, and after keeping spending low last month, he’s still at that level despite his last campaign income being a little over $1,000 a day before lawmakers convened in Tallahassee. Democratic opponent Vito Sheeley, who picked up some high-profile endorsements, added $850 in contributions and burned through nearly half his war chest with a $4,000 payment to Blue Ticket Consulting last month.
Pasco firefighters back Mike Wells for re-election — “The Executive Board for Pasco County Professional Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 4420, has voted unanimously to endorse your candidacy for Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, District 4,” group VP Joe Russo said in a statement to Wells. “These brave women and men work tirelessly and endure great sacrifice to protect our lives and property here in Pasco County,” Wells responded. Wells, a Republican, was elected to the commission in 2014 and is running for his second term this year. He currently faces Democrat Brandi Geoit in the District 4 race.
Pasco School Board races heat up — Political newcomer Tara O’Connor is earning business community support in her bid to succeed Pasco County School Board member Steve Luikart this fall. O’Connor, an attorney and activist, has received contributions from several construction firms that do business with the school district, including Holmes-Hepner, Ajax and Harvard-Jolly, which often support incumbents. O’Connor also received a maximum donation from deputy superintendent Ray Gadd. In the field of four first-time candidates, three of which are educators, O’Connor reported fundraising five times the amount of her next closest opponent. In other races, incumbents Allen Altman and Cynthia Armstrong are also seeking re-election.
Is Ruskin pot dispensary at risk? — When Ruskin nursery 3 Boys Farm applied for a Florida medical-marijuana license in 2015, it hired University of South Florida neurology professor Juan Sanchez-Ramos as an independent contractor to serve as medical director. His duties included helping with the application, consulting on the “most effective strains of low-THC cannabis,” and giving scientific guidance on marijuana production and extraction processes. However, in a lawsuit filed Feb. 28 in Hillsborough County, Sanchez-Ramos says 3 Boys owes him $18,000, about a half year’s pay. He seeks damages for breach of contract. Formerly known as Tornello Landscape Corp., 3 Boys’ president is Robert Tornello.
St. Pete Chamber pushes for Beach to Bay project — This week, a delegation of leaders from St. Petersburg visited D.C. to push a proposed Beach-to-Bay-Central-Avenue bus rapid transit (BRT) route, which would run between St. Pete Beach and downtown St. Pete along the 1st Avenues North and South corridors. Officials of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), as well as Chamber of Commerce representatives, met with Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson, Charlie Crist and Gus Bilirakis. The delegation also included St. Pete Council members Lisa Wheeler-Bowman and Darden Rice, Pinellas Commissioner Janet Long, Tampa Bay Beaches CEO Robin Sollie, Tampa Bay Partnership President Rick Homans and PSTA CEO Brad Miller.
For your radar — St. Petersburg wants to designate the Driftwood community as a historic neighborhood, despite claims that nearly two-thirds of its homes are in a flood zone. The city has taken earlier stances on addressing climate change — signing the Paris Accord and creating a Director of Sustainability & Resiliency Planning position. But critics see forcing owners to preserve homes in FEMA flood zones is counter to sea level rise preparations; they are increasingly concerned over St. Pete’s historic preservation policy. What kind of message does this send for the city’s credibility on sea level rise and global warming issues, residents ask.
